Portabel exit/entry gate system for vehicles

ABSTRACT

A portable entry/exist gate system including a barrier gate mechanism ( 1 ) having a movable gate arm ( 2 ); wherein the barrier gate mechanism ( 1 ) is securely attached to a base plate ( 4 ) including two channels ( 5 ) parallel to each other having openings ( 6 ) such that the forks of a forklift can easily slide into said openings ( 6 ) and channels ( 5 ) to securely lift, move and place the gate system in a desired location.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser.No. 63/065,554 filed Aug. 14, 2020 which is incorporated herein in itsentirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates a portable and removable entry/exist gatesystem for vehicles. In particular, the invention provides a portableparking gate, preferably for use in parking garages when restriction orrepairs are needed. The product is primarily used for vehicular use butcan also be used in a for pedestrian application to direct flow ofpedestrian traffic.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When conducting parking garage restoration, contractors are faced withthe daily task of restoring the parking structures, while the garageremains in open and operational. Blocking off or taking a section ofparking spaces out-of-service to perform repairs with cones, barricadesand “No Parking Zone” signage is a daily challenge, as vehicle operatorsoften ignore the warning signs and choose to park in a “No Parking” zoneand/or remove the temporary cones/barricades and park in a parkingspace, which is blocked off for scheduled repairs

Contractors often close off parking spaces on a given night and usuallyshow up the following day to perform the given repairs in that locationwith a crew, just to find out we cannot perform the work, as the conesand/or the barricades were removed and someone has now occupied thespaces. This results in the contractor sending the crews home andloosing time and money for delayed repairs.

Having the invention device which is a portable and removable entry/exitgate setup allows the contractor to set up a nesting area in any part ofthe parking garage and creating a dedicated “EXIT ONLY” point forvehicles to exit and not allowing vehicles back in the nesting area, aswe now have a control device with a gate arm that will remain on a downposition, if someone tries to re-enter the nesting area closed forscheduled repairs. Exiting is achieved by a motion sensor, which detectsa vehicle approaching the gate arm to exit, thus allowing the gate armto go in the up or open position and safely in the down or closedposition, as the sensor detects the vehicle existing.

The invention device is made of a combination of a barrier gate, foldinggate arm with sensors for opening and closing, a pair of collapsiblerailings all on a galvanized plate with two channels that fit afork-lift used to move the device to different locations. In preferreduses, the gate is programmed such that vehicles can leave the restrictedarea but are not permitted to gain entry. This enables the area to becleared without the need for a hired person to handle entry and exits.

In general, parking gates/barriers and their component parts are knownin the prior art. These references independently disclose individualcomponent parts of the invention device.

The gate arm itself is commercially available in the market as equipmentused as dedicated entry/exit location at the dedicated entry/exitlocations in the parking garage. There are multiple gate manufacturersthat make the arm for fixed entry points. Following representative as towhat is available in the marketplace Federal APD, Amano McGann, 3M,Shied Bachman, Ski-Data.

Gate openers can be found and are sold on the internet. They include aMagnetic Automation Parking Pro Parking Barrier Gate from SecurityEquipment.com (https.//allsecurityequipment.com/) and a parking barriergate from SKIDATA (https://skddatat.com/). Both these products representthe current state of the art. No mobile or portable parking gates arecurrently known.

The prior art does not disclose a portable and removable entry/exit gatesystem for use preferably in a parking garage setting. The inventionprovides such a system which includes a combination of a barrier gate,folding gate arm with sensors for opening and closing, a pair ofcollapsible railings all on a galvanized plate with two channels thatfit a fork lift used to move the device to different locations.

The general object of this invention is to provide a portableentry/exist gate system that is used in parking garages undergoingrepairs that can be easily removed and placed in desired sections of thegarage being repaired.

Another object of the invention is in addition for utilizing the setupin a parking garage to empty parking areas to then be openly accessibleto address any repairs, it can also be used in surface parking lots forevent parking, because the device is mobile and easily transported towhere needed.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide cost savings to theend user by not having an actual personnel standing and guarding theareas to make sure the cars are leaving the nested areas allocated forrepair and making sure another vehicle does not park in the space thatis now freed up. The invention device allows vehicles to exitautomatically and does not let another vehicle enter the nested area,without the use of actual personnel monitoring the enclosed nested area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the present invention, these purposes, as well as others which willbe apparent, are provided by a portable entry/exist gate systemcomprising a barrier gate mechanism having a movable gate arm.

The barrier gate mechanism is securely attached to a base plate havingtwo channels with openings. The two forks of a forklift can easily slideinto these openings and channels on the base plate, such that it issecure and easy to move the system to any area desired.

The system also includes at least one railing (3), preferably at tworails. The rails are collapsible which make transferring the system todifferent locations easier.

The system includes a power source to move said gate arm. The powersource is preferably a “plug-and-play” type system. In a preferredembodiment, the power source is a power cord where the setup can bemoved to the desired location and simply plugged into a 120 V outlet topower up the gate mechanism. The power source cord can come in anydesired lengths.

The power source itself is selected from the group consisting ofelectrical, battery, solar, or wind.

The movable gate arm (2) is foldable or extends to permit entry or exit.

The base plate (4) has a galvanized surface. The base plate needs to behot-dipped galvanized for the long-term durability.

The base plate (4) preferably has four sides and is made of a materialselected from the group comprising of metal, plastic wood or syntheticmaterial. Preferably the base plate material is ½″ steel plate, which isthen hot-dipped galvanized for long term durability.

The channels for forklift (6) are securely attached to said base plate(4) preferably by welding in place.

The barrier gate mechanism used in the invention is any commerciallyavailable mechanism on the market as long as it is securely mounted tothe base plate of the invention having the channels and openings.

These structures permit use of a standard contractor's fork lift to movethe system to any location in the garage.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will beapparent when the detailed description of the preferred embodiments ofthe invention are considered with reference to the drawings, whichshould be construed in an illustrative and not a limiting sense.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the component parts of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the component parts of the invention in aparking garage setting;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the component parts of the invention in aparking garage setting; and

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the component parts of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used in the specification herein the following numerals refer to therespective structures:

-   1—barrier gate mechanism;-   2—movable gate arm;-   3—collapsible railings;-   4—base plate;-   5—channels on the base plate;-   6—openings on the channels for the forklift.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the component parts of the invention whichprovides a portable entry/exist gate system comprising a barrier gatemechanism (1) having a movable gate arm (2).

The barrier gate mechanism (1) is securely attached to a base plate (4)having two channels (5) with openings (6) such that the forks of aforklift can easily slide into said openings (6) and channels (5).

The system further includes at least one collapsible railing (3).Preferably two or more rails are provided as a further barrier totraffic.

The purpose of the rails is for safety reasons, so pedestrians are nottempted to walk over the base plate/channels, causing tripping hazard,after they park their vehicles and walk to their destination.

The barrier gate mechanism (1) used in the invention can be any numberof commercially available mechanisms. There are multiple manufacturersincluding, but not limited to, Federal APD, Amano McGann, 3M, ShiedBachman, Ski-Data.

The barrier gate mechanism includes a power cord to operate the gatearm. In alternate embodiments a solar panel can be included to use solarenergy to power the gate arm. Solar is an option depending where thesetup is located. In the garage setting it is preferable to be pluggedin, but in a parking lot, solar can be an alternative source of energy.

In addition, the hard power connection needed for the gate arm comeswith a “Plug and Play”, where you can connect to the closest electricaloutlet for the source. By plug-and-play, it is meant that the gatedevice will come with an extension cord that the end user can simplyplug in an open outlet and the equipment will function. The end userwill not need to hire and electrician and run hard line power andconduit to provide power. Simply plug the extension cord and it is readyto use.

The gate arm (2) is movable in an upward and downward position to permitentry and exist of vehicles or pedestrians.

The gate arm (2) is preferably foldable and extendable and has variabledimensions depending on its end use desired. Typically, the arm is 5-6feet long, however if the height clearance is an issue (Like in aparking garage), then foldable (2) three foot arms are available. Thisis very flexible depending on the end users need.

The base plate is preferably made of Galvanized Steel that is ½″ thickand preferably 4′×8′. The invention mechanism is welded to the baseplate, so it is secured in place.

The system of the invention is easily moved with a conventional forklift The base plate of the system has two channels (5) with openings (6)that are wide enough so that the forks of a forklift can easily slideinto said openings (6) and channels (5) to move the entire system to anydesired location without slipping off.

The railing (3) is securely attached to said base plate (4). Preferably,the base plate has 4 welded metal/galvanized sleeves (1 on each corner)to allow the railings posts to slide in place when fully setup.

The railing (3) is made of material from the group comprising of metal,iron, wood, synthetic or plastic. Preferably the railings are 1.5″ metalpipes, which then can be painted for easy visibility.

The channels for forklift (5) are made of galvanized metal. Like thebase plate, the channels for the forks are metal hot-dipped galvanizedsteel for durability.

The channels for forklift (5) have dimensions in the range of up to 48inches long and up to 9 inches wide. The openings (6) have dimensions inthe range of up to 8 inches side and up to 4 inches high.

A component to the invention gate system can be added to allow theauthorized personnel to enter the nesting area at the location where theinvention system is placed with a remote access. So the invention is tolet the vehicles out of the desired nested area, but not allow accessback into the nested area. By a remote access, the client/end user isgiven a clicker (Similar to a garage door opener), so if they need toenter in the nested area for any reason, they can do so by using aclicker (Remote Access).

The foregoing description of various and preferred embodiments of thepresent invention has been provided for purposes of illustration only,and it is understood that numerous modifications, variations andalterations may be made without departing from the scope and spirit ofthe invention as set forth in the following claims.

1. A portable entry/exist gate system comprising: a barrier gatemechanism (1) having a movable gate arm (2); wherein said barrier gatemechanism (1) is securely attached to a base plate (4); said base plateincludes two channels (5) parallel to each other having openings (6)such that the forks of a forklift can easily slide into said openings(6) and channels (5) to securely lift, move and place the gate system ina desired location.
 2. The system according to claim 1, furthercomprising at least one railing (3).
 3. The system according to claim 2,wherein said railing (3) is collapsible.
 4. The system according toclaim 1, wherein said barrier gate mechanism (1) further comprising apower source to move said gate arm.
 5. The system according to claim 4,wherein said power source is selected from the group consisting ofelectrical, battery, solar, or wind.
 6. The system according to claim 1,wherein said movable gate arm (2) is foldable or extends to permit entryor exit.
 7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said base plate (4)has a galvanized surface.
 8. The system according to claim 1, furthercomprising a power cord.
 9. The system according to claim 1, whereinsaid base plate (4) has four sides.
 10. The system according to claim 1,wherein said base plate (4) is made of a material selected from thegroup comprising of metal, plastic wood or synthetic material.
 11. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein said channels for forklift (6) aresecurely attached to said base plate (4).
 12. The system according toclaim 2, wherein said railing (3) is securely attached to said baseplate (4).
 13. The system according to claim 2, wherein said railing (3)is made of material from the group comprising of metal, iron, wood,synthetic or plastic.
 14. The system according to claim 1, wherein saidchannels for forklift (5) are made of galvanized metal.
 15. The systemaccording to claim 11, wherein said channels for forklift (5) havedimensions in the range of up to 48 inches long and up to 9 inches wide.16. The system according to claim 1, wherein said openings (6) havedimensions in the range of up to 8 inches side and up to 4 inches high.